Businesses Held for Sale, Financing Receivables Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations (Assets and Liabilities of Businesses Held for Sale) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	May. 29, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Financial Information For Businesses Held For Sale [Line Items]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested	$ 15,580	$ 232
Preferred Stock, Value, Issued	0				$ 0
Cash and cash equivalents	6,448				5,414
Investment securities (Note 3)	39,438				38,400
Current receivables	21,760				23,237
Loans and Finance Receivables	28,570				114,561
Assets of businesses held for sale	154,876				186,934
Other	0				0
Liabilities of businesses held for sale	48,981				48,794
ANZ [Member] | AUD [Member]
Financial Information For Businesses Held For Sale [Line Items]
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business				$ 6,800
Held for sale [Member]
Financial Information For Businesses Held For Sale [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	239				676
Investment securities (Note 3)	0				448
Current receivables	133				180
Inventories	720				588
Loans and Finance Receivables	4,635				2,144
Property, plant and equipment - net	1,100				1,015
Goodwill	799				539
Intangible Assets - Net	251				170
Other	486				540
Valuation allowance on disposal group	0				0
Assets of businesses held for sale	8,363				6,300
Short-term Borrowings	30				441
Accounts Payable	703				510
Other GE Current Liabilities	349				348
Bank Deposits	0				1,931
Long-term borrowings	0				0
Deferred income taxes	(136)				(33)
Other	545				178
Liabilities of businesses held for sale	1,491				3,375
Held for sale [Member] | Appliances [Member]
Financial Information For Businesses Held For Sale [Line Items]
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business						$ 3,300
Held for sale [Member] | Appliances [Member] | Financing Receivable [Member]
Financial Information For Businesses Held For Sale [Line Items]
Assets of businesses held for sale						2,739
Liabilities of businesses held for sale						$ 1,577
Held for sale [Member] | Hungary Bank [Member]
Financial Information For Businesses Held For Sale [Line Items]
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business					700
Held for sale [Member] | Signaling [Member]
Financial Information For Businesses Held For Sale [Line Items]
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business					800
Assets of businesses held for sale					271
Liabilities of businesses held for sale					$ 129
Held for sale [Member] | ANZ [Member]
Financial Information For Businesses Held For Sale [Line Items]
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business			$ 671
Assets of businesses held for sale				5,346
Liabilities of businesses held for sale				358
Held for sale [Member] | ANZ [Member] | AUD [Member]
Financial Information For Businesses Held For Sale [Line Items]
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business				6,000
Held for sale [Member] | ANZ [Member] | NZD [Member]
Financial Information For Businesses Held For Sale [Line Items]
Consideration Received For Sale Of Business				$ 1,400
Held for sale [Member] | Real Estate [Member]
Financial Information For Businesses Held For Sale [Line Items]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested	$ 17,517